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Waley-Cohen given Grand National reprieve by BHA

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Sam Waley-Cohen

Sam Waley-Cohen: lost his appeal but will be able to ride in the National

  PICTURE: Getty Images  

 By tony mcfadden 6:16PM 24 MAR 2016 

SAM WALEY-COHEN will be able to ride in the Crabbie’s Grand National despite failing in his bid to have a seven-day ban overturned, after the BHA backed down in an embarrassing U-turn over the ambiguous wording of one of its rules.

After failing in his appeal earlier on Thursday and receiving the dates on which he would be banned, Waley-Cohen submitted an application to the BHA to consider the wording of the rule that meant he would be sidelined on National day.

Having received the application, the BHA was forced to overturn part of its own decision and granted Waley-Cohen special dispensation to ride in the National after admitting the wording of the rule lacked clarity.

Waley-Cohen said: “After I was given the days I asked why I would be banned on Grand National day, given the wording of the rule is quite specific and says bans apply on days when there is an amateur riders’ chase, an amateur riders’ hurdle or a conditional and amateur riders’ bumper.

“On the day in question there is only a conditional and amateur riders’ hurdle. The BHA said they would have another look at the rule and I’ve been told I can now ride on National day.

“It is all a bit of a sad situation, but it is what it is, and I now have the chance to ride in the National. I now just need to find a horse to ride in the race.”

Carberry also in the clear

Nina Carberry, who had picked up a ban at the Cheltenham Festival that ruled her out of Aintree, will also be allowed to ride in the Grand National as a result of the decision, and the BHA has stated it would be amending the rule in future.

The BHA said: “Owing to ambiguous wording of the rule, suspensions imposed on Sam Waley-Cohen and Nina Carberry will no longer apply on Grand National day.

“The representation from Sam Waley-Cohen suggested the way in which [schedule (B) 10.1] was worded was ambiguous. While the intention of the schedule is to suspend amateur riders when races are taking place in which they can participate, the BHA accept various changes to the schedule over the years mean the rule is open to different interpretation.

“The representation pointed to the fact the clause relating to [bumper] races refers specifically to races confined to amateur and conditional riders, however the clause relating to hurdle races refers only to races confined to amateur riders.”

It added: “The BHA will take steps to amend the schedule to ensure future amateur suspensions correctly reflect the aforementioned intention”

This incident follows hot on the heels of the BHA apologising to trainer Jim Boyle and former trainer Kate Walton for its handling of botched investigations, while bookmaker Geoff Banks is currently embroiled in legal action with the organisation over the Speculative Bid fiasco at Ascot last year.

Long Run - Cheltenham 18.03.11

Long Run: was retired after his run at Carlisle, when his rider was banned

  PICTURE: Getty Images  

Ban upheld

Waley-Cohen had earlier been facing up to sitting out the world’s most famous race after his seven-day ban for failing to ride out Long Run at Carlise was upheld by the disciplinary panel.

Long Run, former winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and two King George VI Chases, was sent off the 1-2 favourite on his first run for two years but weakened in the final stages of the race and was retired immediately afterwards.

Waley-Cohen, who was riding for his owner-trainer father Robert, jumped the final fence of the seven-runner 3m½ hunter chase in third place on Long Run. He then stopped riding for 12 strides before starting to ride again as he was pressed by two rivals who passed him on the run to the line.

However, while the disciplinary panel accepted Sam Waley-Cohen’s opinion that he felt Long Run was tiring, they did not concur that the horse would have finished fifth regardless and said they felt the 12-year-old would have been third if the jockey had continued to ride.

New dates

Waley-Cohen will now serve his ban on April 3-5 inclusive, April 7, April 11-12 inclusive and April 15.

Nina Carberry will be suspended from April 1-5 inclusive, April 7 and April 11.

 

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